OCBD Camp Style

Before you go any further I want to issue an warning. If you are an Ivy Style or Trad purist the images below will not be to your liking. For those of you that have a cross over interest in rugged ivy, late 70s prep, and a touch of modernity continue.

On a 9-5 basis I am pure by the book trad. Blue OCBD, khaki chinos with cuff, an penny loafers like it is a religion. Outside of that I am about 85% pure trad. However I do like to occasionally incorporate some outdoorsiness and sportiness into my looks. This look takes inspiration primarily from late 70s prep vibe, rugged Japanese styled Ivy, and of course fundamental grad. This is what I call my camp style or hiking trad

General when I do this I am actually doing some sporty or outdoors. This could be a bike ride, going hiking, or something as simple as going for a long walk. However I might also wear this look to a coffe shop on a Saturday morning. My goal is to stay protected from the elements and look semi-stylish while doing so. Have some fun, wear some clothes, and get outside.

More OCBD Camp Looks

oxford cloth button down

Jerrod Swanton is a simple man interested in simple, classic, and traditional style.

Yes, I like all these looks and often wear similar when doing the mundane off duty stuff as you describe. I’ve got to say, in a spirit of constructive criticism, that the couple of outfits where you have the shirt tails hanging out from under a sweatshirt would be improved 100% by tucking them in. Purely my opinion of course, it’s okay in summer, but as pictured I see it as a bit of a style faux pas that detracts from an otherwise great rig. Combat/fatigues trousers are definitely the answer when you don’t want to wear denim but need to avoid the curse of sweatpants, jogging bottoms – or ‘fat pants’ as my pal calls them. The pairing of the olive green combats with that admirable maroon colour sweatshirt is a masterful combo. Always look forward to seeing your updates OCBD.

Are those cargo pants the J. Crew garment-dyed herringbone? Or the Wallace & Barnes ripstop? I think they are the herringbone, but I can’t tell from the pictures. I am curious because I just purchased a pair myself, because A) I like the rugged look and the profile, B) I got a fantastic deal on them, and C) I take the disdain they so often seem to engender as a kind of challenge to wear them and wear them well, which I think you have done here.

Granted, criticisms of the uber baggy ’90s-style cargo pants and shorts is well-warranted, but most of the negative reaction towards cargo pants today seems knee-jerk and unreflective to me, especially when the actual profile is like what you show in these pictures (e.g., the cargo pockets are slim and tight, not cartoonishly large and puffy). So thank you for the preview of what I’ve got coming, and for the inspiration on ways to wear them.

Shea – Thank you! Pic one with the salmon sweater or Wallace & Barnes ripstop. The pic with the burgundy sweatshirt are herringbone J.Crew. The ripstop are baggier and lighter than the others. I think you will like your choice!

Thanks! Good to know you show both kinds. My impression from the pics on J. Crew is that the ripstop seemed baggier, but I did not know what the texture of the fabric would be like. Also, even if the ripstop are baggier by comparison, they definitely do not look baggy in absolute terms, which is good for cargo pants.

I am definitely looking forward to my own herringbone cargo pants, especially given how they look in your pic. How heavy would you say they are, and what is the hand feel of the fabric? J. Crew is taking their sweet time getting mine picked and shipped, so I am chomping at the bit.

I like this camp style. Similarly, on winter weekends I frequently wear a Bean chamois shirt (red or camel) over a plaid OBCD and then a fleece or down vest over the whole. I do pair it with denim – I have several pair of jeans from Gustin (the Classic American and the Heavy American) made in California from Cone Mills fabric.